Drying machine



March 30,y 1943. R. w. I UzlUSv y DRYING MACHINFv 2 sheets-sheet 1 ll/(go Filed Sept. 5, 1942 K INI/"ENTORy n Fz/se/Z [lf/(2 las,

K ATTORNEYS.

March 30, 1943. R. w, L uzlus 2,315,124

DRYING MACHINE Filed Sept. 3, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EQ-. E.

' l I INYENTOR lljfc/Z MZZHZIS.`

TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 3o, 1943 f DRYING `MACHIN E Russell W. Lu'zius, Ferndale, Mich., assignor to Park Chemical Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application septembera, 1942, serial No. 457,112

v6 Claims.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for drying polishing wheels;

The conventional form of polishing wheel ls made up in laminated form of a plurality of layers of fabric bonded together, and an abrasive compound in powdered form is .secured to the periphery of the wheel by meansof an adhesive. After the abrasive compound is worn off the wheel, it is necessary to coat the periphery of the wheel with adhesive and apply a new layer of abrasive compound. The particular adhesives conventionally used for this purpose are dried by means of heat, and considerable time is lost in a large stock of wheels because of the relatively long drying period before the Wheels are in conf dition for use.

It is the general object of the present invention n to provide a simple, inexpensive and portable apparatus for drying polishing wheels rapidly by the use of radiant heat energy. f

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the type mentioned which is highly efficient and employs a relative- 1y small number `of radiant heat emitting lamps which are focused upon the peripheries of the wheels.

It is another object of the invention to provide dry the wheels uniformly and which may be easily loaded and unloaded.

Other objects and advantages of the apparatus will become apparent from the following specification, the drawings relatingthereto, and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, in which like numerals are used to designate like parts in the several views f l may be employed in` connection with the wheely supporting shaft of the machine, if desired.

Referring to the drawings, the machine is made an apparatus of the type mentioned which will Y diantheat emitting lamps. At the lower leftn hand corner of the machine, as viewed in Figure l, is a similar angle iron I8 secured at its ends to a'pair of anglemembers 20 which extends diagonally between uprights I Il and the lower hori- Zonta] members I4. The position of the members 20 is such that the upper flange ofthe angle iron I8 extends at an angle of approximately thirty degrees (30) to the horizontal;

At the lower right-hand side of the machine, as viewed in Figure l. an angle iron 22, similar to the angle iron I8, i's supported iny like manner on a pair of, angle iron members `24. n

Each of the angle irons I5, IB and 22 supports two banksof heat radiating lamps. Since the arrangement of the banksjon each angle iron is identical, adescription of ythe banks supported by angle iron I6 will suffice for all. A pair of sleeves 26 is welded in position on the angle iron I6 in.y spaced relation, as bestshown 'in Figure 2. Each of the sleeves 26 receives a rod 28 which may be adjusted axially within the sleeve and held in any desired adjusted position by means of a thumb set screw 30 or any other suitable means. Each of the rods 28 is fixed to a hollow sheet metal supporting bar 32 intermediate the ends of the bar. f

` In the particular embodiment shown. each supporting bar 32 carries a pair of heat radiating elements or lamps comprising reflectors 34 and lamp bulbs 35. Each yreflector is secured 'toits bar 32 by a pair of arms 38 which is welded at one end to the bar 32 and at the other tothe back.

, of the reflector 34 and which embraces a tubular up of a relatively simple angle ironrframework f comprising four upright corner posts I0 connected at their tops by four horizontal members I2 and at their bottoms by four horizontal membersk I4. Extending across the top of the ma chine in a fore-and-aftfdirection between the mid points of two opposite angle members I2 is an angle iron IB which, in a manner hereinafter described, is adapted to support one bank of rashown in Figure 2.

lamp supporting element 4I).

The two reflectors 34 secured to each bar 32 are preferably octagonal in shape, as best shown in Figure 2, so that they will fit against each other. The wiring for the lamps is not shown, butl may extend in any suitable manner through tubular members 4U. supporting elements 32, .ind thence to a source of electric energy. s

As a result of the above construction, there is provided at each end of the machine three banks of lamps spaced at one hundred and twenty degrees from each othcrand directed toward a central axis. K f

A pair of parallelangle irons 42 extend between the vertical angle irons I0 and 'support a pair of transversely extending channels 44 which are located between the two groups of lamps, as best Each of the channel members M supports a bearing comprising a lower bearing member 46 secured by bolts 4l to the angle iron 44 and an upper bearing member 48 secured by cap screws ll to the lower bearing member. The two bearings support and Journal a longitudinally and centrally located shaft 50 which projects outwardly from the two bearings in opposite directions. 'I'he projecting ends of the shaft 5| are entirely free and unsupported.

The shaft 50 is adapted to receive a plurality of polishing wheels indicated in dotted lines at 5 i, which wheels are simply slipped over the free ends of the shaft il in a direction toward the central bearing.

The apparatus is provided with an undercarriage formed of four upright members Il welded at their upper ends to the bottom of the angle irons il. A pair of parallel angle irons Il extends between the uprights it and supports a pair of transverse angle irons t2 which extends between and is supported upon the angle irons Il. A steel plate Il, which is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the upper surfaces of the angle iron t2, in turn supports an electric motor Il and a gear reduction box Il of any suitable construction. The driven shaft Il, which projects from the gear box it, carries a sprocket 1l which drives through chain I1 a sprocket 14 on the wheel supporting shaft Il. The construction and arrangement of the motor, gear box and the sprocket chain are preferably such as to drive the wheel supporting shaft Il at a speed in the order of twelve to twenty R. P. M., but it is obvious that this shaft may be rotated at higher or lower speeds, if desired.

The lower ends of the uprights Il of the under.-

carriage are provided with caster supporting brackets Il which carry caster wheels Il to facilitate transportation of the unit.

It will be observed that the machine provides two projecting ends of the shaft II upon which any desired number of polishing wheels may 'be placed by simply inserting the shaft end through the central openings in the wheels.l The diameter of the shaft Il is preferably so selected as to loosely receive wheels having the smallest sise openings. Consequently, a relatively wide range of wheel sizes may be accommodated by the machine without any change or alteration in the structure. The weight of the wheels produces enough friction against the top of the shaft Il to cause the wheels to rotate slowly when the shaft is rotated.

It will be observed that the heat radiating lamps are arranged in two groups, one for each shaft end, and that each group comprises three banks of two lamps each, the banks being spaced about the peripheries of the wheels at angles of one hundred and twenty degrees (120) from each other. 'I'he shape of the renectors is preferably such that, as shown in Figure l, the heat radiated from each lamp will be concentrated on a relatively small area on the peripheries of the wheels. To accomplish the desired concentration, the lamps may be focused by adjusting the rods 28 in their supporting sleeves Il. 'Ihis adjustment makes it possible to use the machine for wheels of different diameters. The reflectors 34 are also preferably so constructed that they suitably diffuse the reflected radiant heat over the full length of the pmiecting ends of the shaft 5I, as best shown in Figure 2, thus distributing the heat uniformly along the shaft but 'concentrating it on a relatively small area of the wheel periphery measured circumferentially. This arrangement of the lamps makes the moet all of the heat impinges upon the peripheries of thewheels in a substantially radial direction.

The slow rotation of the shaft Il evenly distributes the effect of the concentrated heat waves around the peripheries of the wheels and thus produces a uniform drying rate and eliminates all possible effects of any unintentional variation in the amount of heat produced by each bank of lamps.

In actual practice it 1s found that there is little or no tendency of the wheels to work of! the free ends of the shaft Il and, therefore, it is preferred to avoid the use of any retaining means on the end of the shaft. This facilitates the placing of wheels on the shaft and their removal. However, if in certain cases the wheels have a tendency to work off the end of the shaft, this may be readily avoided in the manner shown in PigureSbysecuringaretainingplatetothe end of the shaft Il' by means of a cap screw Il.

Where themachineisto beusedonwheelsof a wide range of aises wherein the central openings are consequently likewise of a wide range in diameter, it may be desirable to employ an auxiliary sleeve Il, as best shown in Figure 4, toaccommodatethelargersisewheeisandreduce clearance between the wheel openings and the shaft. The sleeve Il may be secured to the shaftllinanydesired manner, asbyset screw Il. It will be underood, of course, that the retaining plate Il may also be esnployed in con- Junction with the sleeve Il, in which event the retaining plate will also retain the sleeve in posinon.

It n appenni that thm 4is provided in accomance with the present invention a simple. inexpensive spparatus which will effectively dry the peripheries of polishim wheels rapidly and uniformly. One of the important features of the machine is the fact that the rotation of the wheels not only insures uniform drying, but also makes possible the employment of a relatively few number of lamps the individual effect of each of which is concentrated on a relative!! small area.

While only one form of the invention is shown and described, it is apparent that variations in the construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is` claimed is:

Ii. An apparatus for drying the peripheries of pclishingwheelsandthelihehavinganaxial opening including a rotatable shaft upon which s wheel may be mounted with the shaft passing through the wheel opening. .means located in radially spaced relation to the shaft for directing and focusing radiant heat toward the shaft and on the periphery of the wheel to dry the mme, and means for rotating the shaft to present all portions of the periphery of the wheel to the direct action of the radiant heat.

2. An apparatus for drying the peripheries of polishing wheels and the like having an axial opening including a rotatable shaft upon which a wheel may be mounted with the shaft passing through the wheel opening, means located in radially spaced relation to the shaft for directing and focusing radiant heat toward the Ashaft and on the periphery of the wheel at a plurality of circumferentially spaced points about the wheel to dry the same, and means for r'otstins the shaft to present all portions of the periphery of the wheel to the direct action of the radiant efficient use of the radiant heat since practically 7l heat.

3. An apparatus for drying the peripheries of polishing wheels and the like having an axial opening including a frame, a shaft journaled in said frame with an unsupported end adapted to receive a polishing wheel with the shaft passing through the wheel opening, means on the frame located in radially spaced relation to the shaft for directing and focusing radiant heat toward the shaft and on the periphery ofthe wheel tok v dry the same, and means for rotating the shart to present all portions of the periphery of the wheel to the direct action of the radiant heat.

4. An apparatus for drying the peripheries of y polishing wheels and the like having an axial opening including a frame, a shaft iourna'led in said frame with an unsupported end adapted to receive a polishing wheel with the shaft passing through the wheel opening, means on the frame f termediate its ends 0n said frame and having its 30 ing adapted to receive polishing wheels with the y 20 frame located in radially spaced relation t0 the oppositely projecting ends unsupported, each of said shaft ends being adapted to receive a polishing wheel with the ends of the shaft projecting through the wheel openings, means on the frame located in radially spaced relation to the two ends of the shaft for directing and focusing radi-y ant heat toward the shaft and on the peripheries of the wheelsto dry the same, and means for rotating the shaft to present all portions of the peripheries of the wheels to the direct action of the radiant heat.

6. An apparatus for drying the peripheries of polishing wheels and the like having central openings including a frame, a shaft Journaled at its center on the frame and projecting freely in opposite directions, the free ends of the shaft vbeshat ends projecting through wheel openings, axially spaced banks of infrared lamps on the ends of the shaft respectively. means associated with the lamps for focusing the radiant energy from said lamps on the peripheries of the polishing wheels, and a motor operatively connected to 25 said shaft rintermediate its ends for rotating the shaft and thereby said wheelato present all portions of the peripheries of the wheels to the action of said infrared radiant energy.

nUssELL w. LUzrUs. 

